Apparatus for preparing coils of yarn for further fabrication



July 10, 1962 5. FIRST 3,043,529

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COILS OF YARN FOR FURTHER FABRICATION Filed July 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1962 s. FURST 3,043,529

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COILS OF YARN FOR FURTHER FABRICATION Filed July 25, 1958 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States My invention relates to the preparation of yarn coils for subsequent use in weaving, spinning or other textile manufacturing. The packages may consist of shuttle bobbins or warp coils for use in weaving, pirns, cops or other yarn packages for spinning, re-winding or other textile manufacturing operations.

In the preparation of such coils, it is desirable to facilitate the further fabrioatory use by having the starting end of the yarn located at a given spot of the spool or coil core in form of a small reserve winding which can readily be seized and unwound by automatic devices. apparatus in which such reserve windings are used for seizing, conveying and sensing operations are described, for instance, in the copending applications of W. Reiners and S. Fiirst, Serial No. 640,166, rfiled February 14, 1957, now Patent No. 2,936,130; and of S. Fiirst, Serial No. 640,137, filed February 14, 1957.

The preparatory work can be done in the manner and by the means disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 684,597, filed September 17, 1957. According to the invention of the copending application, the freely disposed end of the yarn is first unwound to a slight extent and then is again wound onto the core of the coil at the desired predetermined location, particularly the tip of the tubular core or quill of a spinning cop.

It is an object of my present invention to improve the just-mentioned apparatus toward further simplicity and reliability.

To this end, and in accordance with a feature of my invention, the unwinding of the yarn from the coil to be prepared is effected in the axial direction of the core, but

Methods and atent 3,043,529 Patented July 10, 1962 ice wound onto the tip, but it also inherently operates to shift the unwound portion of yarn toward the core tip so that the subsequent re-winding of the unwound yarn and back onto a given location of the core is done by rotating the core-and-coil body and running the yarn onto the core in a radial direction.

According to a more specific feature of my invention,

the proper unwinding of the yarn end from the coil is effected by means of an air current.

Referring particularly to spinning cops as they come from the spinning machine, the reserve winding of yarn, as a rule, is located on the foot portion of the tubular core which forms the core end remote from the conical tip portion of the body of yarn. Accordingly, the air current used for dissolving the reserve winding on such cops is preferably active at the cop foot in a direction axially away from the core. In such cases, an appreciable yet not always equal length of yarn is contained in the original reserve winding as it is produced at the last winding step on the spinning machine. Therefore, according to another feature of my invention, it is favorable, after dissolving the original reserve winding by the air current, to first cut the yarn end down to a given short length, and then rotating the coil a given number of turns in the unwinding sense to thus remove an always definite length of yarn, before commencing the rewinding of the yarn to form a new reserve winding on the core tip.

According to another feature of the invention, the justmentioned removal of yarn prior to re-winding is effected by means of a suction nozzle which has a nozzle slot extending along the coil, substantially parallel to the coil axis, and one end of the-slot as well as the suction inlet of the nozzle are located near the tip of the coil, where a new no other yarn guide is needed for subsequently running the yarn back onto the tip by simply rotating the coil in the winding-up sense.

Preferably, the seeking and dissolving of the original reserve winding on one' foot of the core and the subsequent severingof the yarn end are performed as a single step of operation, and the unwinding of a given quantity of yarn and the running-up of a new reserve winding on the tip of the core in a direction perpendicular to the core axis are effected as a second step of operation. By thus proceeding in two sequential steps of operation, the work as well as the design of the necessary devices can be simplified. Due to the severing of the yarn at the end of the first operating step, a uniform length of yarn to be unwound and subsequently rewound is simply and reliably secured. For performing the two operating steps there are preferably used two separate air currents flowing through two respective channels. However, a single air impeller or source of suction may be used for producing both air currents. It sutfices to first connect one channel with the impeller and, after completing the first operating step, to connect the other channel in lieu of the first one with the impeller.

The above-mentioned and other objects and features of my invention will be apparent from the embodiment described in the following with reference to the drawings in which FIG. 1 is a front view of coil-preparing apparatus constructed according to the invention;

FIG. la is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1';

FIG. 2 is a top view of the same apparatus; and

FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate details of the same apparatus in front view (FIG. 3) and side views (FIGS. 4 to 6).

The frame structure 1 of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 carries an endless conveyor chain 2 which runs about a sprocket roller 4 mounted on a shaft 3 and supplies the yarn coils K from the right, these coils consisting, in the illustrated example, of spinning cops as they come from the spinning machine. At the reversing point of conveyor travel the cops K drop individually into a guiding funnel 5 which passes them onto a holder sheet 6. The cop located in.position K on sheet 6 lies opposite a pusher 7 which has 'an operating lever 107 that is controlled by a cam disc 8 driven by a motor 9. Pusher 7 pivots on a shaft 24. Mounted on the shaft of cam disc 8 is another cam disc 10 (FIG. 2) which actuates an electric reversing switch 11. Switch 11 operates to energize an electric motor 12 to run in one or the other direction. The motor 12 drives a pair of the pusher 7, actuated by cam disc 8, moves toward the left (FIG. 1) it shifts the cop from position K onto the pair of rollers 14, 15, into theposition designated K Located between rollers 14, 15 is'an elongated slot'nozzle 16 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4). The length of the nozzle slot 16 is approximately equal to the length of the cop. 'Mounted at the left end (FIG. Sand 6) of the slot nozzle 16 is a scissors-type cutter having a scissor arm 17 that is mounted on and can be turned by shaft 24. This also moves the second arm (FIG. 1) of the cutter into" closing position, this second arm being pivotally connected to a linking rod 25 which in turn is pivotally connected to the stationary frame structure 1 of the machine. The shaft 24, controls the pusher 7 as well as the cutter 17170, being driven from a cam disc 26 (FIG.,2) which is concentrically joined wtih'cams 8 and 10.

Each cop has a tubular core or quill which has a foot portion 41 of a larger diameter at one end and a tip portion 42 at the other end. Located at the side of the foot 41, opposite the pair of rollers 14 and 15, is a displaceable tubular nozzle member 18 (FIGS. 4 to 6) whose opening can be moved into the immediate vicinity toward and over the foot 41 of the cop K located on rollers 14, 15. The front part of nozzle 18 is broken away in FIG. 1, for clarity. Nozzle end 18 extends laterally of conduit 20. Member 16 preferably forms an integral or fixed structure, while member 18 can pivot on 21, or at its hub 18', or on any other siutable pivot means. The tilting of member 18 about its hub 18' (FIGS. 4, is accomplished by means of crank arm 27 (FIG. 1) in the manner described below. A feeler roller 19 (FIG. 4) journalled onthe tubular member 18 maintains a given minimum spacing between the nozzle opening of member 18 and the cop K The tubular member 18 and the .slot nozzle 16 communicate with a suction conduit 20. A flap valve 21,

pivoted at 21 (FIG. 4) and actuable by means of an arm 22, selectively connects either the tubular member 18 (FIG. 4) or the slot nozzle 16 (FIG. 5) with a suc t'ion-air producer (not shown). The movement of flap 21 takes place simultaneously with the tilting movement of tubular member 18 about hub 18' and is controlled by an, angular crank arm 27 (FIG. 1) mounted on the shaft 24. The angular displacement of crank arm 27 is transmitted by a linking rod 28 to the tubular member 18 (FIG. 1). The angular displacement of arm 27 is also transmitted to valve flap 21 by a linking rod 29, an angular lever 31 and another linking rod 30.

An endless chain conveyor 23 (FIGS. 1, 2) receives the cops K that were previously processed on the roller pair 14, 15, and conveys the cops to another location for further fabrication, or to a magazine.

The apparatus operates as follows. The cops K, supplied by conveyor 2, pass individually through funnel 5 onto the holder sheet 6 whence they are displaced by pusher 7 into position K on rollers 14, 15. The cam mechanism moves the tubular nozzle member 18 about its hub 18 '(FIGS. 4,- 5) from below into the vicinity of the cop foot 41 and simultaneously connects the nozzle member. with a source of suction air. Under thei eifect of the suction current, the. yarn end originally contained in form of a reserve winding 42a (FIG. 4) on the-foot of the cop is pulled off axially, and a portion of the immediately adjacent steeply pitched turns 43 of yarn on the surface of the yarn package is also unwound and pulled off. Tube 18 is first withdrawn from the bobbin so that the cutter 17 can move across the bobbin end 41 to sever the strand. Now the cutter 17 is actuated, the yarn end being cut otf and being removed by the suction current. The switch 11 is now actuated to operate the drive motor 12 with the effect that the cop in position K on rollers 14, 15 is turned in the unwinding direction. Simultaneously, 'valve flap 21 pivoting about 21 (FIG. 4) connects the slot nozzle16 with the source of suction and disconnects the tubular nozzle member 18 from suction. Now the yarn end located at the slot of nozzle 16 is pulled into the nozzle (FIG. 5). The roller pair 14, 15 performs only a given number of rotations corresponding to a predetermined length of yarn to be Wound off. As a result, just as much yarn is unwound as is required for the formation of a reserve winding at the tip of the cop. The switch 11 is again actuated and .reverses the motor 12 to now turn the cop in the winding-up'sense. During the rewinding operation, the yarn end remains at the right-hand end of the suction nozzle 16 (FIG. 5). Consequently, the unwound length of yarn is now wound up only at the tip of the cop to form a new reserve winding as shown at 44 in FIG. 6. The processing is terminated with the completion of this reservewinding 44.

In the meantime another cop has passed from conveyor 2 into position K The next following actuation d of the pusher 7 displaces the new cop toward the roller pair and thus also entrains the fully processed cop from position K onto position K (FIG. 2) on the receiving conveyor 23. The cycle of operation then continues in the above-described manner.

The operation of the individual parts is as follows.

When starting the operation of the device, the motor 9 is energized. Operating through a spur gear transmission motor 9 drives the cam discs 8, 26 and 10, which are mounted on a common cam shaft. The same drive, acting through a chain transmission 102 and sprockets 101, 103, drives the feeder device 2 and the dispensing device 23.

The rotating set of cams 8, 10, 26 actuates the controlling components. The cam 10 actuates the control lever 11 which at first turns clockwise and controls motor 12 to run in one direction by actuation of the contact pair 104. After elapse of a certain time, the lever 11' actuates the contact pair 105 to make the motor run in the other direction. The cam 26 cooperates with a lever 106. The cam 8 cooperates with another lever 107 which, in FIG. 1a, coincides with the lever 106. The lever 107 is mounted on a hollow shaft 108. The lever 106 is mounted on a full shaft 24. Fastened to the end of the hollow shaft 28 is the tappet 7. Fastened to the end of shaft 24 is the angular lever 27. Also fastened to the shaft 24 is one arm of the scissors-type cutter 17.

The scissors 27 are formed by the two blades 111 and 112. The blade 112 is firmly connected with the cutter arm 17. The other blade 111 is linked to the bolt 113 and is also pivotally joined with the rod 25 whose other end is rotatably mounted by means of a lug 114 on the machine frame structure. When the scissors, by rotation of the cam disc, are turned to the left by lifting of the lever 106 with the arm 17, the connecting rod 25 is entrained. However, the length of this rod is so dimensioned, relative to the length of the scissors arm 17, that it pulls the blade 111 on the right-hand side downwardly with the result that the scissors will close on the left side during the turning motion of the arm 17. Since during operation the yarn extends between supply coil K3 and suction tube 18, the yarn is cut oil? by the closing of the scissors.

The angular lever 27 rotates together with the motion.

of the scissors arm 17. This rotation is transmitted by the rod 28 to the suction tube 18 which moves away from the coil and thus vacates the space between coil and suction tube for the inward turning motion of the scissors 111, 112. The turning motion is also transmitted by the rod 29 to the lever 31. The lever 31 has a slanting position as is particularly apparent from FIG. 5. For that reason, the lever 31 is visible in the lateral view according to FIG. 1 as well as in the top view according to FIG. 2 inform of an angular structure. When the lever 31 is entrained by the rod 29', the rod transmits its motion to the control arm which is particularly linked with the arm 22 of the flap 21. Since this rod, too, has a slanting position, it likewise appears in both FIGS. 1 and 2 at respectively different lengths.

During rotation of the cam discs, the lever 107, cooperating with the cam 8, is lifted when the machine operation is about to be terminated. Consequently, the hollow shaft 108 entrains the arm 7 and thereby shoves the coil located in thetrough 6 toward the left. This coil displaces the coil K on'the rollers 14 and 15 t0 the left so that coil K rolls onto the dispensing device and is thus conveyed away.

In cooperation with the rotation of the cams, the forward or return run of the motor 12 is eifected by the contacts 104 and 105. That is, as soon as a new coil is plaoedby the pusher 7 upon the drive rollers 14, 15, the motor runs in such a direction that the coil is driven in a direction opposed to that of its yarn turns. At the same time, however, the suction nozzle 18 is moved in the direction of the coil axis so that it places itself over .proaching. Thereafter,

. I the coil (cop) foot as shown in FIG. 4. The yarn end, wound upon the cop foot, becomes dissolved. The dissolution of this reserve winding on the foot, just described, requires only very little time. It can be terminated already while the suction nozzle 18 is still apthe scissors are turned inward, and the yarn is cut off. The cop is further rotated in the same direction, and the angular lever 27 and the angular lever 31 moved together with the turning-in movement of the scissors. This motion is transmitted by the rod 30 to the flap 21 so that the suction air can no longer act at suction tube 18, but will now act at suction tube 16 upon the cop. During reverse motion, the yarn end is sucked away and now, after dissolution of the turns, passes to the tip with a large angle of pitch. The cam shape of the set of cams determines the period of time during which the cop is driven in the unwinding direction. After elapse of this period, the cop is turned forward, i.e. in the winding-up direction. The yarn places itself against the most rearward edge of the suction tube 16. Located opposite this edge is the tip of the cop core which is vacant for receiving the reserve winding. During the subsequent winding-up operation, the yarn pulled into the suction tube is again wound up to form a reserve winding on the core tip.

The above-described drive of the cop in the reverse or unwinding direction need not necessarily coincide with the sucking-off of the winding at the core foot. This drive may also commence at a later moment, namely only after the yarn is cut off. However, if the reverse winding takes place during the sucking-off operation, the latter operation may be more favorable because the winding is unwound or dissolved more rapidly. After forming the winding on the tip, the processing of the particular cop is terminated. Now the above-described exchange by pushing the cop away and entering a new cop takes place. As described, the latter operation is effected by means of the pusher 7.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, upon studying this disclosure, that with respect to structural details my invention permits of various modifications and hence may be embodied in apparatus other than that particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essential features of my invention and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for unwinding a length of wound yarn end from one location on a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the package, comprising means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package,

means for parting from the withdrawn yarn a terminal portion thereof to leave a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, means to turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, the apparatus providing means for withdrawing said remaining withdrawn yarn end in a non-axial direction, and means to turn the yarn package in winding direction to rewind said remaining length onto another location of the package.

2. An apparatus for unwinding a length of wound yarn end from one location on a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the package, comprising suction nozzle means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package, means for thereafter parting from the withdrawn yarn a terminal portion thereof to leave'a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, means to thereafter turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, second suction nozzle means for withdrawing said remaining withdrawn yarn end in a nonaxial direction, and means to thereafter turn the yarn package in winding direction, the second suction nozzle means running said remaining length onto another location of the package, the said running being in a direction transverse to the yarn package winding axis.

3. An apparatus for unwinding a length of wound yarn end from a reserve winding at onelocation on a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the package, comprising suction nozzle means for withdrawing the reserve winding axially of the yarn package, means for thereafter parting the withdrawn yarn tovleave a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, means to thereafter turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, second suction nozzle means for withdrawing the remaining yarn end in a direction transverse to the yarn package winding axis, and means to thereafter turn the yarn package in winding direction.

4. An apparatus for unwinding a length of wound yarn end from one location on a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the package, comprising suction nozzle means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package, means for parting from the withdrawn yarn a terminal portion thereof to leave a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, means to turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, second suction nozzle means for withdrawing said remaining withdrawn yarn end in a non-axial direction, and means to thereafter'turn the yarn package in winding direction, the second suction nozzle means running said remaining length onto another location of the package, the said running being in a direction transverse to the yarn package axis, the first and second recited nozzle means forming an integrated movable structure having a common suction duct, the first nozzle means having an intake opening positionable opposite an end of the yarn package on which a reserve winding is formed, the second nozzle means having an intake opening extending longitudinally of the yarn package, and valve means to connect one of the nozzle means to the suction duct and to disconnect the other nozzle means from said duct.

5. An apparatus for unwinding a length of wound yarn end from one location on a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the package, comprising suction nozzle means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package, means for parting from the withdrawn yarn a terminal portion thereof to leave a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, means to thereafter turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, second suction nozzle means for withdrawing said remaining Withdrawn yarn end in a non-axial direction, and means to thereafter turn the yarn package in winding direction, the second suction nozzle means running said remaining length onto another location of the package, the said running being in a direction transverse to the yarn package axis, the first and second recited nozzle means forming an integrated movable structure having a common suction duct, the first nozzle means having an intake opening positionable opposite a foot end of the yarn package on which a reserve winding is formed, the second nozzle means having an intake opening extending longitudinally of the yarn package, and valve means to connect one of the nozzle means to the suction duct and to disconnect the other nozzle means from said duct, and means for moving said structure to dispose the first nozzle means adjacent said foot end and to adjust said valve means to apply suction to said first nozzle means and remove suction from the second nozzle means.

6. .An automatic apparatus for unwinding a length of wound yarn end from a reserve winding at one location on a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the same package, comprising conveyor means to convey a sequence of the yarn packages, guiding means to receive the packages in sequence after they leave the conveyor means, two rollers to receive individual packages in sequence from the guiding means, pusher means to push an individual package from the guiding means onto the rollers, switch and motor means to turn the rollers for unwinding and for winding the yarn, first suction nozzle means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package, the first nozzle means having an intake opening positionable opposite afoot end of the yarn package on which the reserve winding is formed, means adjacent said end to automatically cut the withdrawn yarn to leave a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, said switch means being thereafter automatically operated to actuate the motor to turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, second suction nozzle means for withdrawing the remaining unwound end in a non-axial direction, the second nozzle means having an intake opening extending lengthwise of the yarn package, the switch means being thereafter automatically operated to actuate the motor to turn the yarn package in winding direction, the second suction nozzle means running said remaining unwound end onto another location of the package, the said running being in a direction transverse to the yarn package axis, the first and second recited nozzle means forming an integrated movable structure having a common suction duct, and valve means to connect one of the nozzle means to the suction duct and to disconnect the other nozzle means from said duct, and means for moving said structure to dispose the first nozzle means adjacent said foot end and to simultaneously adjust said valve means to apply suction to said first nozzle means and remove suction from the second nozzle means, said means for moving said structure being also operative to remove the first nozzle means from said first end to permit access of the cutter to cut the withdrawn yarn.

7. An apparatus for unwinding a length of Wound yarn end from one location on -a yarn package and rewinding a determined length of the unwound yarn end on another location of the same package, comprising conveyor means to convey a sequence of the yarn packages, guiding means to receive the packages in sequence after they leave the conveyor means, two rollers to receive individual packages in sequence from the guiding means, pusher means to pushran individual package from the guiding means onto the rollers, switch and motor means to turn the rollers for unwinding and for winding the yarn, first suction nozzle means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package, means for parting from the withdrawn yarn a terminal portion thereof to leave a predetermined length of withdrawn yarn end remaining, said switch and motor means being operative to turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, second suction nozzle means for withdrawing said remaining withdrawing ya-rn end in a non-axial direction, the second suction nozzle means having an air intake extending longitudinally of the yarn package, and means to set said switch means to turn the yarn package in winding direction, the second suction nozzle means running said remaining length onto another location of the package, the said running being in a direction transverse to the yarn package axis, the pusher means also serving to push the next yarn package against the preceding one to remove the latter from the rollers, and receiver means to receive the yarn package pushed ofi the rollers.

8. An apparatus for runwinding a length of wound yarn end from one location on a yarn package and rewinding the unwound yarn end on another location of the package, comprising means for withdrawing a length of wound yarn axially of the yarn package, means to turn the yarn package about its axis in unwinding direction, the apparatus providing means for withdrawing said withdrawn length of yarn in a non-axial direction, and means to turn the yarn package in 'winding direction to rewind said length onto another location of the package.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,035,721 Reiners Mar. 31, 1936 2,208,930 Kahlisch July 23, 1940 2,670,150 Perry Feb. 23, 1954 2,675,971 Abbott Apr. 20, 1954 2,685,413 Reiners Aug. 3, 1954 2,747,806 Borchardt May 29, 1956 2,755,857 Furst July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 53,411 Switzerland a Oct. 15, 1910 

